The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (85 page)

Read The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems Online

Authors: John Milton,Burton Raffel

Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Literary Collections, #Poetry, #Classics, #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #English poetry

BOOK: The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems
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91

      

Moved the Creator, in His holy rest
4141

92

      

Through all eternity, so late
4142
to build

93

      

In Chaos, and the work begun, how soon

94

      

Absolved.
4143
If unforbid thou may’st unfold

95

      

What we, not to explore the secrets, ask

96

      

Of His eternal empire, but the more

97

      

To magnify His works, the more we know.

98

      

And the great light of day yet wants
4144
to run

99

      

Much of his race, though steep. Suspense in Heav’n,

100

      

Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he hears,

101

      

And longer will delay to hear thee tell

102

      

His generation,
4145
and the rising birth

103

      

Of Nature from the unapparent
4146
deep.
4147

104

      

Or if the star of ev’ning and the moon

105

      

Haste to thy audience, night with her will bring

106

      

Silence—and sleep, list’ning to thee, will watch,
4148

107

      

Or we can bid
4149
his absence till thy song

108

      

End, and dismiss
4150
thee ere the morning shine.

109

      

Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought,
4151

110

      

And thus the godlike Angel answered mild:

111

      

   
“This also thy request, with caution asked,

112

      

Obtain, though to recount Almighty works

113

      

What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,

114

      

Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?

115

      

Yet what thou canst attain,
4152
which best may serve

116

      

To glorify the Maker, and infer
4153

117

      

Thee also happier, shall not be withheld

118

      

Thy hearing. Such commission from above

119

      

I have received, to answer thy desire

120

      

Of knowledge within bounds. Beyond,
4154
abstain

121

      

To ask, nor let thine own inventions
4155
hope

122

      

Things not revealed, which the invisible King,

123

      

Only
4156
Omniscient, hath suppressed
4157
in night,

124

      

To none communicable in earth or Heaven:

125

      

Enough is left besides to search and know.

126

      

But knowledge is as food, and needs no less

127

      

Her temp’rance over appetite, to know

128

      

In measure what the mind may well contain,

129

      

Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns

130

      

Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind.

131

      

   
“Know then, that after Lucifer from Heav’n

132

      

(So call him, brighter once amidst the host

133

      

Of Angels than that star
4158
the stars among)

134

      

Fell with his flaming legions through the deep

135

      

Into his place, and the great Son returned

136

      

Victorious with his Saints, the Omnipotent

137

      

Eternal Father from His throne beheld

138

      

Their multitude, and to His Son thus spoke:

139

      

   
“‘At last our envious foe hath failed, who thought

140

      

All
4159
like himself rebellious, by whose aid

141

      

This inaccessible high strength, the seat

142

      

Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed,

143

      

He trusted to have seized, and into fraud

144

      

Drew many, whom their place knows here no more.

145

      

Yet far the greater part have kept, I see,

146

      

Their station.
4160
Heaven, yet populous, retains

147

      

Number sufficient to possess
4161
her realms

148

      

Though wide, and this high temple to frequent
4162

149

      

With ministeries
4163
due, and solemn rites.

150

      

But lest his heart exalt him in the harm

151

      

Already done, to have dispeopled Heav’n,

152

      

My damage fondly
4164
deemed,
4165
I can repair

153

      

That detriment,
4166
if such it be to lose

154

      

Self-lost, and in a moment will create

155

      

Another world, out of one man a race

156

      

Of men innumerable, there to dwell,

157

      

Not here, till by degrees of merit raised

158

      

They open to themselves at length the way

159

      

Up hither, under long obedience tried,
4167

160

      

And earth be changed to Heav’n, and Heav’n to earth,

161

      

One kingdom, joy and union without end.

162

      

Meanwhile inhabit lax,
4168
ye Powers of Heav’n,

163

      

And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee

164

      

This I perform. Speak thou, and be it done!

165

      

My overshadowing
4169
Spirit and Might with thee

166

      

I send along. Ride forth, and bid the deep

167

      

Within appointed bounds be Heav’n and earth—

168

      

Boundless the deep, because I Am who fill

169

      

Infinitude, nor vacuous the space.

170

      

Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire,

171

      

And put not forth my goodness, which is free

172

      

To act or not, necessity and chance

173

      

Approach not me, and what I will is fate.

174

      

   
“So spoke th’Almighty and, to what He spoke,

175

      

His Word, the Filial Godhead gave effect.

176

      

Immediate are the acts of God, more swift

177

      

Than time or motion, but to human ears

178

      

Cannot without process of speech be told,

179

      

So told as earthly notion can receive.

180

      

Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heav’n,

181

      

When such was heard declared th’Almighty’s will.

182

      

Glory they sung to the Most High, good will

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